Golf-ball.



Patented June 3, I902.

No. 70I,766.

F. H. RICHARDS.

GOLF BALL.

Mmmemwmmmmqa I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS RICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE JERSEY.

KEMPSHALL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW GOLF-BALL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 701,766, dated June 3, 1902.

Application filed March 24, 1902; Serial No. 99,622. (No model.)

T0 at whont it may concern.-

Beitknown that I, FRANCIS I-I. RICH RDS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGolf-Balls, of which the following is a specification- This invention relates to playing-balls, and especially to thoseused in the game of golf; and its object is to improve the structure and increase the durability of the ball.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 illustrates an unexpanded soft-rubber shell. Fig. 2 shows a layer of gutta-percha applied to said shell. Fig. 3 shows a fabric-lined layer of celluloid applied to the Fig. 2 device. Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate later stages in the production of the ball. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional fragment illustrating the construction of the ball. Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-section of the ball-mold, showing a ball completed therein, but partly broken away.

In the several views similar parts are indicated by similar characters of reference.

In forming a core for the ball I employ a shell 1, of soft rubber, having a perforation 2 and a vent 2. 3 designates the outer surface, and 4 the inner surface or cavity, of said shell. Upon said shell I apply a layer or shell 5, of gutta percha or analogous material, and

upon the latter I apply a fabric-lined'layer orshell 6, preferably of celluloid or its equivalent. The layer 5 may be applied in a plas-' tic condition and allowed to harden to an ex tent to be handled with safety. Then the fabric layer 6 may be applied, and finally the shell 6 put on in a plastic condition and allowed to harden. The several layers may, however, be otherwise appliedwithin the scope of my invention, and it is desirable that all of said layers should be loosely arranged: The ball thus assembled I inclose in.

by recesses d in the halves of the mold, is inserteda funnel f, having a flange f. The half a of the mold is provided with a transverse perforation g, screw-threaded at h to receive a threaded plug The mold-halves may be provided with dowels It.

When the ball is placed in the mold, the funnelenters through the perforation 2 and communicates with, the cavity it of the rubber hell. In the bore cis placed a suitable quantity of gutta-percha '7", which is rendered fluent by heat, By the piston c said guttapercha is forced into the interior of the ball, as at Fig. 4:, the displaced air escaping through the vents 2' and g, whereupon the plug j may be inserted, as at Fig. 5, and the piston forced farther down to cause the guttapercha to expand the rubber and its several enveloping layers 5, 6, and 6 to the limits of the mold or chamber. A vent 8 may be provided for thejescapement of air from the chamber. The rubber shell is materially increased in diameter and put into a state of tension, while the gutta-percha and celluloid shells being rendered plastic by the heat are caused to conform to the shape of the chamber, which preferably. is provided with pits illustrated, so as to form brambles or otherwise emboss the shell. The pressure is maintained upon the pistons eun'til the entire ball cools and hardens. The perforations 2 2 may be filled by a plug 9. 1

Variations may be resortedto within the scope of my present i'mprovements-as, for instance, the fabric lining 6 between the outer and inner shell layers may be omitted, or other material may be substituted therefor.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. A playing-ball comprisinga shell of gutta= percha, fabric and celluloid,'said shell being distended by a mobile mass" injected thereinto.

2. In a playing-ball, a spherical shell consisting at least partially ofgutta-percha and celluloid and distended by plastic material injected thereinto.

3. In a playing-ball, a shell formed of gutta percha, celluloid, and an intervening fabric layer, said shell being distended by a core of gutta-percha injected thereinto.

4. In a playing-ball, a shell having an in ner layer of gutta-percha and an outer layer of celluloid, and distended by a core of guttapercha injected thereinto.

5. In a playing-ball, a shell formed of a plurality of layers of difierent kinds of plastic material and distended by a core of plastic material injected thereinto.

6. In a playing ball, an embossed shell formed of gutta-percha and celluloid and distended by-a gutta-percha core injected thereinto; and a plug filling the injection-hole in the shell.

7. Aplaying-ball comprisingashell of seamless or continuous layers of gutta-percha and celluloid, said shell being distended by a core of plastic material injected thereinto; and the outer of said layers being embossed.

8. In a playing-ball, a shell distended by a mass of mobile material injected thereinto; said shell comprising a seamless layer of guttapercha inclosed by a seamless layer of fabriclined celluloid.

9. Aplaying-ballcomprisingashell ofguttapercha, fabric and celluloid, said shell being distended by a mobile mass injected thereinto; and a layer of soft rubber intervening between said shell and said injected material.

10. In a playing-ball, a spherical shell consisting at least partially of gutta-percha and celluloid and distended by plastic material injected thereinto; and a layer of tensioned soft rubber intervening between said shell and said injected material.

11. In a playing-ball, a shell formed of gutta-percha, celluloid, and an intervening fabric layer; said shell being distended bya core of gut-ta-percha injected thereinto; and a layer of soft rubber intervening between said shell and said injected material.

12. In a playing-ball, a shell having an inner layer of gutta-percha and an outer layer of celluloid, and distended by a core of guttapercha injected thereinto; and a layer of tensioned soft rubber intervening between said shell and said injected material.

13. In a playing-ball, a shell formed of a plurality of layers of different kinds of plastic material and distended by a core of plastic material injected thereinto; and a layer of soft rubberintervening between said shell and said injected material.

14. In a playing-ball, a shell distended by a mass of mobile material injected thereinto; said shell comprising a seamless layer of guttapercha inclosed by a seamless layer of fabriclined celluloid; anda layer of tensioned soft rubber intervening between said shell and said injected material.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

B. O. STICKNEY, JOHN O. SEIFERT. 

